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Top five laptops for 2019

In this guide

We help you find the right laptop for you, picking five of the very best, as well as some you'll want to give a wide berth

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We all use our laptops in a variety of different ways, whether it's to compose complicated spreadsheets, catch up on the latest blockbuster via a streaming service, or simply follow friends on Facebook.

On this page we've also picked out some of the worst laptops we've tested so you can see what you should be avoiding. Nobody should have to put up with sluggish processors, tinny speakers and dull screens.

Only logged-in Which? members can view our recommendations in the table below. If you’re not yet a member, you can get instant access byjoining Which?.

Top five laptops

86%

£979.00

Reviewed Nov 2018

A high-end laptop that put many other Windows models to shame, this is one of our highest-scoring notebooks. Not only does it look great, but it manages to pull out top-drawer performances from its screen, speakers and processor. In other words, it’s the complete package.

It’s expensive but it’s also worth every penny. While other laptops might score higher overall, none of them score so consistently well across all our tests. If you need a laptop for multimedia projects including photos and videos, or simply want the best of the best, click through to our review to find out more.

This Chromebook is fantastic value for money, with a fast processor and premium build quality that makes it look and feel like a much more expensive laptop. If you don't want to be saddled with the complexities of Windows and don’t mind learning how Chromebooks works, this is a great buy.

This is the best laptop we’ve tested for under £500 thanks to its good screen, nippy performance and all-day battery life. If you’re looking a cheap laptop that won’t break the bank but also won’t baulk at the basics, look no further.

Five tips for picking a laptop

Processor

Essentially the brains of the machine, the processor is instrumental in making sure your laptop runs smoothly and quickly. Pick a slow one, and you'll be left drumming your fingers as you wait for your program to load. The most common type is Intel's Core i3, i5, and i7 range. The Core i3 will fit the bill for basic tasks like word processing and web browsing, but if you're looking to do anything more intensive, such as graphics editing or playing games, you'll need a beefier processor.

Ram

Ram is the memory of the laptop, and the more of it there is, the snappier it will be. 4GB is the minimum we'd recommend unless you're prepared to buy a very basic laptop. It's also worth checking how many Ram slots the laptop has, as it may be possible to add more Ram at a later date to give a flagging laptop a second wind.

Battery Life

Battery life can make or break a laptop. If a machine is packed with the latest specs, but only lasts a couple of hours untethered from the plug socket, it's going to be something of a letdown. Some of the models we've tested can last up to a whopping fifteen hours between charges, but realistically, seven upwards is more than reasonable to look for.

Screen

A laptop screen is a simple thing to overlook, but it's an important consideration. The very best are bright, crisp and clear. The worst are dulled and lacking in colour. Pick one of these, and you'll be peering into the virtual world through a dirty window. Our tests break down how good screens are in different conditions.

Storage space

How much you can store on your laptop will depend on the size of its drive. Around 1TB should be more than enough for most, but if you start looking at solid state drives (SSD), you'll notice that these come in much smaller configurations than traditional hard drives. The upshot is that they are much faster to access information, meaning that your laptop will start faster and load quicker. If speed is key, go with an SSD. If sheer space is more important, opt for a hard drive.